Health, HIV Infection, Human Rights, and Injecting Drug Use

Abstract

he epidemic of AIDS was first recognized in the 1980s. AIDS was soon shown to result from sexual or bloodto-blood transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In response to this epidemic, some called for draconian measures directed at populations deemed to be at highest risk arguing that this was a traditional public health approach to epidemics spread by dangerous microorganisms. Few were persuaded by this argument. An alternative approach based on the notion that only more vigorous attempts to protect human rights for all, but especially the most vulnerable members of communities, can ensure that the HIV epidemic is brought under control was also set forth. Although initially argued by some to be counter-intuitive, it has since come to be widely accepted as the most reasonable strategy. In almost all countries, populations at higher risk of HIV infection, including men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers and injecting drug users, have long been subjected to discrimination. There is now a wealth of empirical evidence drawn from numerous countries to demonstrate that prevention strategies based on respect for human rights allow authorities to engage more effectively with higher risk populations, thereby reducing high risk behavior and decreasing the spread of HIV.1 Protection of human rights for all, especially marginalized populations, has become a central is